Zombie Fest rocks out to B-movies

Tuesday

Set for Saturday night at an old warehouse on Burnett Boulevard, the concert will feature four bands playing tunes while clips from various zombie movies are projected in the background.

Late last summer, Wilmington musician Jimmy Kaylis saw an epic set by rockabilly-toned singer and songwriter Dexter Romweber at Carolina Beach's Ocean Grill cut short by a thunderstorm.“I was like, ‘We need to get him back down here,' ” Kaylis said, and the idea for ZombieFest 2010 was born.Set for Saturday night at an old warehouse on Burnett Boulevard, the concert will feature four bands playing tunes while clips from various zombie movies are projected in the background. On the bill are Wilmington bands The NoSeRiDeRs and The Phantom Playboys along with Triangle acts John Howie Jr. & The Sweethearts and, of course, The Dex Romweber Duo (Romweber with his sister, Sara, on drums). Kaylis, who's the drummer for and manager of The Phantom Playboys, a rockabilly band that plays regularly at venues around town, said he found the unusual venue for ZombieFest right under his nose. The Playboys practice in a 4,000-square-foot warehouse with a padded ceiling, and during practice one night, Kaylis said he noticed that, “man, it sounds great in here.” Kaylis said he's known Romweber for 20 years, and that his former band, Chrome Daddy Disco, once played on the same bill as Romweber at erstwhile Chapel Hill music festival Sleazefest. “That kind of atmosphere was what I was looking for,” Kaylis said. “Beer, B-movies and barbecue.”And while there might not be any barbecue at ZombieFest, they're sure to have the rest in abundance. Seth Moody of The NoSeRiDeRs has put together a package of clips from various zombie movies, and to further ramp up the atmosphere Kaylis said he's offering a $100 prize for best Halloween costume, although costumes aren't required for entry. It should be a wild and woolly good time and, in any event, Romweber will get to play a full set this time.

John Staton: 343-2343On Twitter.com: @Statonator

7:30 p.m. John Howie Jr. & The Sweethearts www.myspace.com/jhjandthesweetheartsA founding member of N.C. country bands Two Dollar Pistols and The Rosewood Bluff, Triangle-based singer and songwriter Howie brings a deep-voiced respect to classic country inspired-tunes and covers by the likes of Ernest Tubb and others. 8:30 p.m. The Phantom Playboys www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99278165788Featuring ZombieFest organizer Jimmy Kaylis on drums, Rural Swine axe-slinger Bobby Phillips on guitar and “The Phantom” on lead vocals, this Wilmington band touts itself as “the only rockabilly band” in town. 9:30 p.m. The NoSeRiDeRs www.myspace.com/thenoseridersThese Wilmington favorites led by mad musical scientist Seth Moody – who brings skills on guitar, the Moog and even theremin to the stage – mix surf rock, punk and more new wave elements into their shout-out-loud songs. 10:30 p.m. The Dexter Romweber Duo www.myspace.com/dexterromweberduoLed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Dex Romweber and featuring his sister, Sara, on drums, this powerful duo transcends the rockabilly origins of its songs into an artistic realm not many bands are able to tread. Nobody sounds like Dex.

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